Apparatus for dyeing fibrous material.



No. 893,986. Y PATBNTED JULY 21,' 1908. R. DAWSON, DBC'D.

F. E. DAWSON, BXHGUTRIX. lAPPARATUS FOR DYEING FIBROUS MATERIAL.`

a SHBBTS-SHEET 1 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1906.

No. 893,986. PAIENTED 'JULY 21, 1908.

R. DAWSON, DBGD.

F. E. DAWSON, BXEGU'TRI'X.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING FIBROUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN. 10, 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 893,986. PATENTED JULY 21,1908. R. DAWSON, D ECD.

P. B. DAWSON, EXBCUTRIX. APPARATUS POR DYEING FIBROUS MATERIAL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1.0. 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFIOE.

ROBERT DAWSON, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS; FRANCES E. DAWSON, EXECUTRIX OF SAID ROBERT DAWSON, DEOEASED, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO EDGAR N. HUNT,

OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING FIBROUS MATERIAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT DAWSON, of Framingham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing Fibrous Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the dyeing of Wool or other fibers loosely associated in the form of carded slivers or tops, and it has for its chief object to enable the fibers thus associated to be thoroughly and efficiently dyed and at the same time prevented from felting or matting together during the dyeing operation so that the dyed slivers or tops will not require to be recarded after dyeing. Heretofore the fibers of slivers or tops have been so held during the dyeing operation that they have been agitated and subjected to relative movement resulting in the felting or matting of the fibers to such an extent as to render a recarding operation necessary.

Another object of the invention is to enable the tops or slivers to be dyed in the cans in which they are deposited by the gill box of a carding machine and without removal from the cans, the fibers being characterized by the condition of looseness and freedom from strain or tension that usually attends their deposition in the sliver can, by the gill box, so that they are uniformly receptive to the dye at all points, and are therefore uniformly colored. At the same time much expense and delay is avoided because the dyeing operation thus performed does not involve the removal of the slivers or tops from the cans in which they are originally coiled, the dyed slivers or tops being in the same condition as to looseness and adaptability to the subsequent processes that they would be in if the dyeing operation had not been performed.

My invention consists in the improvements in dyeing apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication,--Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a dyeing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the tank and a front elevation of the rotary carrier therein, said parts constituting the essential elements of my improved apparatus. Fig. 3 represents a partial end elevation showing means for imparting rotary motion to the carrier. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of a portion of one ofthe heads of the carrier and one end of a sliver can engaged therewith. Fig. 5 representsv a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents an end view of a sliver can embodying my invention, the cover of the can being removed. Fig. 7 represents the cover of the can shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the fiber is deposited in the cans.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings 12 represents a tank which may be of any suitable construction and is adapted to contain dye liquor. The tank may be provided with suitable means for heating the dye liquor, said means as here shown including steam pipes 13.

Journaled in suitable bearings above the liquid containing portion of the tank is a horizontal shaft 14 to which rotary motion may be imparted by suitable means such as the driving pulley and gearing shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise. To the shaft 14 are rigidly aii'ixed opposed heads 15-15. TheseV heads are separated from each other by practically unobstructed space adapted to receive a series of foraminous sliver cans 17, the heads being provided with can engaging means adapted to confine the end portions of the cans, leaving the body portions unobstructed on all sides between the heads so that when the heads are rotated, the cans, which are caused by the rotation of the heads to move through the dye liquor in the tank, will be in Contact on all sides with the dye liquor Which is thus enabled to circulate freely through the cans and the contents thereof, the unobstructed peripheries of the cans enabling the liquid to readily escape from the cans which are elevated above the body of the dye liquor.

The preferred means carried by the heads 15 15 for engaging the end portions of the cans, comprise narrow clamps adapted to grasp the said end portions, said clamps consisting of narrow U-shaped flanges affixed to and projecting inwardly from the inner sides of the heads 15, and pivoted gates 19 adapted to close the openings between the ends of said flanges, and confine the can ends inserted therein. The arms or end portions of the U-shaped flanges radiate or project outwardly, the said arms forming guides or tracks to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cans, the latter being rolled to place in the end-clamps from the front of the tank, and removed by being rolled. outwardly. The gates 19 are adapted to be displaced to permit the insertion and removal of the cans, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, the heads 15 and the' gates 19 being provided with complemental coupling or securing devices whereby the gates may be secured in position to retain the cans in place in the heads. The gates 19 are preferably bars pivoted at 20 to the heads, each bar having a curved inner face 21 adapted to bear on a portion of the perimeter of a can 17. The gates 19 may be secured by means of latch bars 22 pivoted at 23 to the heads 15, the swinging ends of the gates having studs 24 adapted to enter slots 25 in the adjustable engaging members 19. Each stud 24 may be provided with a clamping thumb nut 25 adapted to bear on one side of a gate 19. IVhen said y nuts are tightened, they lock the gates 19 securely in place.

The tank is provided with a hood or casing 26 which covers the upper portion of the above described apparatus, this hood has side openings provided with movable covers 27-27 which permit access to the interior of the head.

The cans 17 are of cylindrical form and are adapted to receive the slivers or tops directly from the gill box of a carding machine. Each can has a foraminous body which is preferably of perforated sheet metal such as copper, although any other foraminous material may be employed for the body and the other foraminous members of the can hereinafter described. I prefer to make the fibercontaining chamber of the can annular in form so that the fiber will be held in an .annular body, both surfaces of which are exposed so that dye liquor can enter and leave the body from both its outer and inner surfaces. To this end I provide as a part of the can an inner foraminous tube or Wall 28 which is concentric with the outer wall or body 17 The inner wall 28 is rigidly affixed to the bottom 29 of the can, the said bottom being foraminous and rigidly affixed to the body or outer wall 17.

In order that the can may be used both as a receptacle for the slivers or tops delivered from the carding machine and as an element of the dyeing apparatus above described, I provide means for confining the charge of fibers in the can, thus enabling the can to be removed from the carding machine and engaged with the rotary heads 15 of the dyeing apparatus. In the present embodiment of the invention the charge of fibers is confined in the can by means of a detachable foraminous cover 30 applied to the mouth of the can, the cover and the mouth of the can body being provided with complemental coupling or securing devices whereby the cover may be detachably secured to the can. In the present embodiment of the invention the said devices include ears 31 projecting from the perimeter of the cover 30 and inwardly projecting segmental flanges 32-32 on the mouth of the can, said flanges being separated by openings 33-33 adapted to receive the ears 31. rlhe cover is applied to the can with its ears 31 coinciding with the openings 33 and when the ears have passed through said openings the cover is partially turned to engage the ears with the undersides of the flanges 32.

The bottom 29 and cover 30 of the can are provided with openings coinciding with the end portions of the tube or inner wall 28, so that the said tube is entirely open and unobstructed from end to end, hence dye liquor can readily enter the tube and flow from it outwardly into the charge of fiber in the can and can also flow inwardly from the said charge and escape from the ends of the tube.

The diameter of the body or outer wall 17 of the can is greater than that of the ordinary sliver can and the width of the annular space between the outer and inner walls of the can is substantially equal to or somewhat greater than the diameter of the coils or loops, 34, (Fig. 8), in which the fiber is disposed in the can by the ordinary action of a gill box.

The slivers or tops are therefore deposited in the cans in convolutions which are made up of loops or coils 34, these being free from strain or tension. This freedom from strain or tension which always characterizes slivers or tops as delivered to a can from a gill box is an important factor in the dyeing o eration, the fiber thus loosely disposed eing particularly receptive to the dye liquor so that when the can is used as an element of the above described dyeing apparatus the charges in the cans are uniformly dyed, the dye liquor penetrating to all parts of the said charges in consequence o their relative looseness and freedom from strain or tension. In this respect my invention is a marked irnprovement over the ordinary methods of dyeing in which the fiber is wound or coiled in balls or cheeses which are necessarily formed under some strain or tension and in which the convolutions necessarily are pressed much more closely together than are the coils or convolutions deposited in the cans by the gill box in accordance with my invention. In depositing the slivers or tops in the cans as above described, there is not only an entire absence of strain or tension on the fibers, but there is also an absence of such pressure of the convolutions against each other as to retard or obstruct the entrance of dye liquor into the body of fiber. This improvement in the art of dyeing which consists in depositing slivers or tops in foramiseaese nous cans forming a charge of fiber which is characterized by the usual looseness and freedom from strain or tension which attends the depositionof slivers or tops in a can by a gill box, then confining the charge in the can `so that it cannot bulge from the mouth thereof, and then mounting the can in a rotary carrier in such manner that its entire perimeter is unobstructed, and access to dye iquor through which the can is moved, con* stitutes a novel and useful method of dyeing fibers which are associated in a loose or untwisted condition or in the usual condition of fibers in slivers or tops.

By my improved method and apparatus wool slivers or tops are dyed without matting or felting the fibers, and therefore Without occasion for recombinfy the material after the dyeing operation. T is important advane tage is due to the absence of strain or tension in the fibers, the same enabling the dye liquor to penetrate all parts of the body of fiber, and to the movement of the body of loosely associated fiber through a body of dye liquor which is at rest and does not exert felting pressure on the fibers. Dye liquor moved forcibly against a body of wool fibers by the action of a pump or by gravitation, (the liquor being poured against the body of fibers from a point above the same,) will act to mat together o'r felt the fibers to such an extent as to render recombing necessary.

In practice the accumulation of dye liquor in the tank will be deep enough to immerse the lowest cans. The rotation of the can carrier is relatively slow so that the liquor does not exert a felting pressure on the fibers in the cans.

To facilitate the flow of liquor'through the foraminous bottoms and covers of the cans, the heads 15 are provided with openings 40, (Figs, 1 and 5), coinciding with the ends of the cans. L11-41 represent tie rods afiixed to the heads 15 and extending between the same- 1t will be seen that the Ueshaped flanges 18 constitute can-end seats which are open at the perimeters of the heads to ermit the lateral movement of cans to an from the seats, so that the cans can be moved to their bearings on the seats by a lateral rollin movement toward the axis ofthe holder, an from one side of the casing. This movement involves the minimum expenditure of muscular force on the part of the operator, and the minimum wear of the contacting parts by friction. The said seats are arranged so that the portions of the heads 15 which form the margins of the openings 40 constitute means for preventing longitudinal or endwise displacement of the cans engaged with the seats, so that the cans cannot .be accidentally projected outwardly from the ends of the carrier. I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to provide a rotary carrier mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and having opposed heads in which are formed openings to permit the endwise movement of receptacles for material to be dyed, the said receptacles being movable endwise through one of the heads to and from its operative position between the heads. 1n such proposed apparatus, the endwise movement of the receptacles involves much greater muscular exertion and much greater 'wear by frictional contact between the receptacle and the carrier, by the movement of the receptacle to and from its operative position, than in my apparatus. Moreover, in the said proposed apparatus, the receptacles are free to move endwise, and are liable to be displaced, so that they will project from one end of the carrier, and collide with the fixed casing in which the carrier rotates. This is prevented in my apparatus by the portions of the heads which overlap the ends of the cans and prevent their endwise displacement.

T claim,-

1. A dyeing apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary carrier therein, mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and having opposed heads separated by a can-receiving space, said heads having can-end seats,which are open at the perimeters of the heads to permit the radial movement of cans to and from the seats, means for preventing longitudinal displacement of cans engaged with` the seats, and means for locking the cans in the seats.

2. A dyeing apparatus, comprising a tank, and a rotary carrier therein, mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and provided with opposedvheads, each having a series of can-end clamps adapted to be opened and closed to release and confine a series of cans.

3. A dyeing apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary carrier therein, mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and provided with opposed heads, each having a series of canend clamps, including inner members affixed j to the heads, and adjustable outer members or gates adapted to open and close the inner members.

4. A dyeing ap aratus comprising a tank, a rotary carrier therein, mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and provided with o posed heads, each having a series of radialy arranged U-shaped iiancres, a series of pivoted gates adapted to con me can-ends in said flanges, and means for securing the said gates in their operative positions.

5. A dyeing apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary carrier therein, mounted on a sub* stantially horizontal axis, and provided with opposed heads, each head having a series of can-end clamps, the heads having openings opposite the ends of the cans held by said clamps.

6. A dyeing ap aratus comprising a tank, a rotary carrier tlierein, mounted on a substantially horizontal aXis, and provided with opposed heads, having can-end clamps, and i a series of foraminous cans formed to engage said clamps, the bodies of the cans being exposed between the heads to liquid through which the cans are moved by the rotation of the carrier.

7. A dyeing apparatus comprising a tank, arotary'carrier therein, mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, and provided with opposed heads having can-end clamps, and a series of 'oraminous cans formed to engage said clamps, and provided with oraminous bottoms and covers, the said heads being provided with openings which coincide with said bottoms and covers.

8. As a part or element of a dyeing apparatus, a portable sliver can having a foraminous body or outer wall, a ioraminous tube or inner wall concentric with the outer wall, an annular foraminous bottom rigidly attached to the body and tube, and surrounding one end of the tube, a detachable annular oraminous cover surrounding the other end of the tube, and means for detachably securing the cover to the body, said can being adapted for insertion in a rotary carrier whereby it may be presented to a body of dye liquor.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT DAWSON.

Witnesses:

DANIEL N. BROPHY, FRED R. DAwsoN. 

